“I usually am.”

“And still you show up.”

Elena looked around — Daniel helping Mia cut the cake, Parker arguing about dinosaur facts, Sloane quietly collecting empty plates, Vanessa hovering uncertainly near the kitchen but trying. “It’s strange,” Elena said. “I thought that day at the party would make me feel small forever.”

“And?”

Elena gave a faint smile. “It made me stop accepting small places.”

“Good,” Margaret said.